Rugby Union Today: Dylan Hartley calls time on career

Another busy day in the rugby union game as former England captain Dylan Hartley announced his retirement due to a troublesome knee injury.

What’s on the site

Ex-England skipper Dylan Hartley, who won 97 caps for his country, has been forced to hang up his boots after failing to recover from a knee injury. The issue kept him out of the Red Rose’s recent World Cup campaign and he was unfortunately unable to get back to full fitness.

Meanwhile, despite the control South Africa enjoyed in the final of the Rugby World Cup, analyst Sam Larner says that there were a couple of key moments which the swung the game the Springboks’ way.

Elsewhere, focus turns to the games in Europe and we have looked at the main talking points ahead of the weekend’s action in the ‘The short side’, including the potential reaction to Saracens’ points deduction and the battle between two Irish fly-halves.

Finally, check out the previews for Friday’s encounters in the Premiership and PRO14, with Sale Sharks taking on Wasps and Connacht hosting Leinster in a couple of big matches.

What’s in the news

The SRU have been fined a significant sum of money after criticising World Rugby ahead of their encounter against Japan in the World Cup. CEO Mark Dodson threatened legal action should the match not take place due to Typhoon Hagibis and an Independent Disputes Committee decided that his comments deserved an official reprimand.

Elsewhere, Sale boss Steve Diamond has had his say on the punishment handed down to Saracens for breaching the salary cap, stating that the Londoners were “naive.”

Following the end of the Rugby World Cup, the focus switches to domestic action in Europe where the Premiership reaches Round Four on BT Sport. Their coverage duly starts with Friday’s meeting at the AJ Bell Stadium between Sale Sharks and Wasps.

Elsewhere, the PRO14 continues on Premier Sports with Round Six, which includes a couple of interesting all-Irish ties as Connacht take on Leinster and Munster go head-to-head with Ulster at Thomond Park.